Sinn Féin’s president Gerry Adams has warned “there’s no point putting together a government just for the sake of it”.

At the time of publishing Mr Adams expects to be returned to his seat in Louth, along with party colleague Imelda Munster.

Speaking to Newstalk, he said Sinn Féin “would like to see a government elected” and their “first port of call” following the counting of votes will be to assess if there is a chance for a “progressive government” built of Sinn Féin TDs and those elected from its Right2Change partners.

As the next Dáil begins to take shape it is becoming clear there will be no solid structure to it, regardless of what government forms. Alliances and treaties will be pitched and wrung out over the coming weeks – however Mr Adams has warned against the formation of a government “for the sake of it”.

“There’s no point putting together a government just for the sake of it. People here had clear choices; they weren’t fooled by the bribery by some of the conservative parties."

The revival of Fianna Fáil was a return of temporary defectors, Mr Adams claimed.

“Yes Fianna Fail had a good election but what happened is people who left them last time to go to Fine Gael have gone back to them.”

Earlier today Mary Lou McDonald – elected to Dublin Central after five counts – firmly ruled out a coalition with either Fine Gael or Sinn Féin. Mr Adams all but ruled it out, saying the party remain firmly against entering government as a junior partner.